These pictures are proof that Mumbai is truly the city that never sleeps

A night out in Mumbai shot with the new OPPO R17 Pro

Love the city or hate it, one thing is for sure – the energy of Mumbai is infectious. And even long after office hours are over and before the sun begins to rise, the city is still bustling with a vibe that’s hard to ignore. What is it about Mumbai that’s so alarmingly beautiful at night? Is it the Gateway of India all lit up and basking under the moonlight? Is it the thrill of a midnight drink or a 2 AM kebab? Or maybe it’s the lure of the sea, resting peacefully at night and glittering with the reflections of the neon lights of the city where dreams go to thrive. We spent a night wandering the streets of Mumbai armed with the new OPPO R17 Pro and took full advantage of its excellent camera, designed to click stunning low light images, that really helped us seize the night.

The OPPO R17 Pro is among the very few smartphones to offer triple cameras on the rear. The primary shooter comes with a 12MP resolution and a dual-aperture system. In daylight, the camera uses f/2.4 aperture to make images sharper, while in low-light situations, f/1.5 aperture brings in more light. The camera also comes with OIS to enhance night-time photography. Then there’s a secondary 20MP shooter for optical zoom-like capabilities and a 3D sensing camera for those impressive portraits.

Like most journeys do in Mumbai, we started off our little trip around Mumbai at the station, where we hopped on a local to Bandra. The OPPO R17 Pro’s remarkable triple rear camera set up has a 12-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture from f/1.5 to f/2.4 and is perfectly suited to capture Bandra after dark. As crowded as the station is during the day, at night the station is eerily quiet and there is a gentle peace in looking out the window and watching the neon lights go by in a whizz.

First, we headed to the infamous Toto’s Garage for a drink and got a dose of the good ol’ retro classics. Toto’s is one of Bandra’s most loved retro bars and with its set of regulars and adoring fans, it can be hard to get a table here on a weekend. Croon away to Guns N’ Roses or get into the groove with some Presley – we can guarantee you’ll love their playlist if you’re a fan of classic rock. The dim lights and dark interiors of Totos can test most photographer’s limits, but the OPPO R17 Pro comes armed with features that are more than ready to take on the challenge. The phone’s Ultra Night Mode uses AI-based algorithms to optimise low-light photography, which made shooting in the dim little bar a breeze.

Photo by Rahul Nath

Next, we decided to take a stroll around Carter Road for some sea breeze and of course shawarma from Carter’s Blue. Who can resist that mouth-watering aroma? For all the selfies that you’d ever want to take at Carters (have you even been to Bandra if you don’t have a picture at Carters?), the OPPO R17 Pro is perfectly equipped with a 25-megapixel front camera which comes with an AI beautification mode with a live preview option. (A little vanity never hurt anyone!)

Then we got into a kaali peeli and headed towards town. We played around with the shutter speed of the OPPO R17 Pro for a bit and got a few stunning shots of the Worli Sea Link. The camera has a three-fold setup which lets us experiment with depths a little bit. We absolutely loved the results.

Photo by Rahul Nath

We stopped at Haji Ali on the way for a juice and to admire the gorgeous view. Standing grandly in the middle of the sea, the mosque looked almost ethereal, with the green and orange lights reflecting off the water in an eerie glow.

Photo by Rahul Nath

We took a walk around town and played around with the light on the OPPO R17 Pro to capture some detailed shots of the gorgeous, old buildings around Fort. CSMT station and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Building look absolutely magical with the lights dancing off the road, with just a few overworked office goers around, hurrying home.

Photo by Athul Prasad

Gateway of India looked absolutely magical as always. No matter how many times you pass by, it never ceases to enchant you. While we shot this image, we took advantage of the OPPO R17 Pro’s incredible image processing software which automatically determines the scene and dynamically adjusts the exposure to get the perfect shot. In low light shooting, it even lengthens exposure time and uses its image stabilization system to add light to dark areas.

Photo by Athul Prasad

We took a walk around Colaba Causeway and stopped at Leopold Cafe for another drink. The café still bears the marks of the bullets that seared through its walls on 26/11. The bullet laded walls still stand there as a grim reminder of the terrors the city endured just a few years ago and is also a testament to the strength of a city that refuses to give up on life.

Photo by Rahul Nath

Next on the agenda was a visit to Bademiya for some rolls and kebabs. No matter what day it is, the famous Bademiya’s lane is always bustling with activity and it’s almost impossible to walk past without at least stopping for a whiff of those kebabs on the fire.

Photo by Athul Prasad

A visit to Sassoon Dock in Colaba is not for the faint at heart. But if the overpowering smell of fish doesn’t scare you away, it can make for a very interesting morning! Around 1,500 trawlers operate here every day, bringing in around 20 tonnes of fish. With fishermen pushing handcarts loaded with the day’s catch and women carrying tubs teamed with fish, prawns and crabs it can be hard to navigate through the chaos. You’ll see an occasional egret swooping in for an easy breakfast or a cat snatching a nice, juicy fish and narrowly escaping the hand of the watchful fisherwomen. We got a shot of the boats parked peacefully in the jetty at daybreak. We made use of the OPPO R17 Pro’s smart aperture feature which automatically adjusts to the lighting conditions and produces crisp, sharp images.

For a little detox from the stench of the fish, we then headed to the sweeter-smelling side of town, Dadar Flower Market. This wholesale flower market has just about every kind and colour of flower. Roses, mogras, gerbera daisies, peonies, lotuses, marigolds, carnations and other Indian as well as exotic flowers can be bought at discounted rates (or depending on how much you bargain!) The OPPO R17 Pro’s handy AI Ultra-clear engine came in handy here. The phone is equipped with a smart aperture and optical image stabilization features along with an intelligent white balance algorithm that makes precise adjustments to the colour and dynamic range of the photograph. The perfect tool to capture those beautiful, brightly coloured flowers!

Photo by Rahul Nath

Our final stop was Ram Ashraya in Matunga for a scrumptious meal of idlis and filter coffee where we confess we spent most of our time admiring the photos we had taken and thinking about the events of the night. The OPPO R17 Pro, with its great low light photography features was just the right tool we needed to capture the essence of Mumbai after dark.

Photo by Athul Prasad

There’s just something about a night out in Mumbai that reminds you why no matter how much you complain about the weather, the noise and the traffic – Mumbai will always be a place to call home.